Autism
Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a tough condition to understand. Those with it
usually begin to show symptoms as children, when they begin to show difficulty communicating
and interacting with others. There is no known single cause for ASD.
The word
“spectrum” on ASD means that there are many different degrees of autism, and
how it affects someone who has it. According to the Autism
Society, some behaviors associated with autism
include:
- delayed learning of language;
- difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation;
- difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning;
- narrow, intense interests;
- poor motor skills; and
- sensory sensitivities.
Someone on
the spectrum might exhibit all of these behaviors, or just a few of them,
coupled with others not listed here. And any or all the behaviors can and often
are more or less severe with each individual on the spectrum.
There is much
to learn about ASD, but one thing for sure is that increased awareness is
crucial. That’s because early diagnosis and intervention can help someone with
ASD in many ways. For starters, early diagnosis means quicker access to
services and support — and improved outcomes.
The
United Nations created World Autism Awareness Day, every April 2, to raise
awareness about this disorder, which affects one in every 68 children. But one
day isn’t nearly enough time to spend on ASD awareness, and so the Autism
Society promotes the entire month of April as National Autism Awareness Month.
Do you
know someone with ASD, or with a friend or family member on the spectrum? Find
out how you can help bring awareness and support research in your community. Scientists are hard at
work of finding the cause of autism, but also laboring away on the development
of therapies and treatments that make living on the spectrum easier.
Autism
may be hard to understand, but kindness, caring and compassion come easy to
those of us in healthcare. Let’s see what we can do to help unlock this puzzle!
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